Fear of bodily sensations and panic

• Mission Statement by Georg Eifert, 3/7/98
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    • mitral valve prolapse and anxiety by Stephen Colameco, MD, 3/9/98
      
      

I agree with Dr. Clameco's comments on the relation between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and anxiety. He rightly points out that MVV, in and of itself, rarely causes anxiety but that MVP may often be "guilty by association". MVP is only one of many heart-related and other bodily sensations that in some individuals become associated with panic-like experiences. Other "culprits" are chest pain or tightness, heart pounding or racing, choking sensations, and light-headedness. The common denominator of all these aversive bodily sensations is that they are part of a bodily alarm response that can escalate into panic, but only if the individual is actually frightended by these sensations and perceives them as dangerous or life threatening. In terms of treatment, it is important to have these sensations checked out medically first to rule out any physical pathology. After that has been done, we can then focus on psychological/environmental triggers of these alarm responses. Even if there are no obvious triggers, cognitive-behavioral treatments can help afflicted individuals deal with these sensations and help them learn to lead a "normal" productive life with or without these occasional "bodily eruptions".

• reply by sharsh brodhurst, 4/24/98
  • Treatment of fear of bodily sensations by Georg Eifert, Ph.D., 4/29/98
• out of help by andreina from Venezuela, 5/16/98